Feeding and gauging mechanism



March 2, 1948 R. E. .1. NORDQUI ST I 2,436,821,

FEEDING AND GAUGING MECHANISM I Filed June 28, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 m M e w T 0 March 2, 1948. R. E. J. NORDQUIST 2,436,321

FEEDING AND GAUGING MECHANISM Filed June 28, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOE March 2, 1948.-

Filed June 28, 19,44 4 Sheets-Sheet s mwimmfimza! 1 1 7 fw /z a; I '4 v24 64 5 I W Za M4 v Mi FIMIIII M7 min R m lllllllllll v I R. E. J. NORDQUIST FEEDING AND GAUGING MECHANISM March 2, 1948.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 28, 1944 I l I E IIH INVENTOR.

Ritchie! Mar. 2, 1948 FEEDING AND GAUGING MECHANISM Ronald E. J. Nordquist, Maplewood, N. J., as-

signor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 28, 1944, Serial No. 542,564

6 Claims. (Cl. 2712.4)

This invention relates to a mechanism for feeding and gauging web and strip material having one or more undulated or scroll cut edges and has particular reference to spaced intermittently operated turrets for accurately advancing such a web or strip therebetween by engagement of the I scroll edge or edges to gauge 'a predetermined distance of advancement as when a portion of the web is moved into an operating station.

An object of the invention-is the provision in a suitable machine, for example, a machine for preparing non-rectangular articles such as can ends from a continuous web or strip of material having its opposite edges undulated or cut in scroll outline, of a pair of spaced gauging turrets having elements for engaging the'opposite lateral undulated edges during feeding of the strip or web while simultaneously gauging the same laterally and longitudinally of its path'of travel for accurately locating a portion of the strip at an operating station, and for holding it in position for a desired operation. I

Another object is the provision in such feeding and gauging turrets, of radial arms for carrying gauging elements and for keeping them in contact with the opposite undulated edges of the strip, together with devices associated with each of the turrets for actuating the arms and for moving the elementsalong a'substantially straight line path of travel while the elements engage such undulated edges of the strip for feeding it and for gauging and holding a portion thereof in a desired position in an operating station.

- Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation'of a mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1,' with upper parts broken away and parts in section; v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 in Fig. 2

and showing parts at the feeding and gauging station;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan. view of the parts shown in Fig. 3,. with parts broken away;

- both of its opposite edges pre-cut or undulated- 2 Fig. 5 is a fragmentarytop plan view with parts broken away and other parts in section, the view being taken substantially along the broken lines 55 in Fig. 1, with the web of material removed;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the broken lines 6-6 in Fig. 5; and Fig. '7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line in Fig. 5.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention the drawings, illustrate a feeding and gauging mechanism A for intermittently and for accurately positioning a portion of a web or strip of sheet material B in a desired location at a working station C as the web is being fed into the mechanism. Such a web preferably has one or as at D so that movementof the web is under control at all times.

The web material is unwound from a reel E (Figs. land 2) which is journaled in any suitable support adjacent the feed-in end of the instant mechanism. Initial feed rollers F continuously draw the web from the reel and discharge it into a loop or stack section G in a suitable opening in the mechanismframe so that a supply of material is on hand for intermittent advancement to the feeding and gauging mechanism A. For this purpose a second set of feed rollers H are provided. These rollers are adapted to coact with the mechanism A during the feeding operation and to release their hold of the web during the gauging and work performing operations. This will be described fully hereinafter.

In the feeding and gauging of web material B having its opposite edges undulated as at D (Fig. 2), the mechanism A includes two spaced feeding and gaugingturrets ll, 12 one on each side of the web. In feeding material where the Web has one edge undulated, one such turret may be used in cooperation with one or more rollers for guiding the web. In the present mechanism as shown by way of example, a web having both edges undulated is operated on. Twoturrets H, H! are used to feed the web G to the right (as viewedin Fig. 2) while gauging it, so that portions of the web are positioned accurately beneath upper die parts I3, I4 at the workingstation 0.

Upper die parts l3, [4 (see also Fig. 1) cooperate with lower die parts carried on a bolster plate I! of a conventional form of press J. This press is mounted on a press frame I'8. The upper dies I3, I4 are moved up and down by a slide 22 in the usual manner. Two sets of dies are shown herein for use on the double width of web for a double row out. A single set comprising an upper die and a lower die would be used in connection with a single width of web for a single row out.

These dies may shear or cut circular or nonrectangular blanks from the web B or the dies 'may be the combination blanking and forming units for cutting and forming articles such as can ends directly from the web. In either case, however, the operation of the present mechanism is the same. The slide 22 which carries the upper dies I3, I4 is operated by a crank shaft 23 which may be driven in any suitable manner and it is this shaft that constitutes the main drive for the feeding and gauging mechanism.

The initial feed rollers F (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) include an upper feed roller 24 and a lower feed 'L-i roller 25. These rollers are mounted on shafts 28, 2'! journaled in suitable bearings in a frame 28. This frame is mounted on a machine main frame 32 and on the press J. The frames I8 and 32 are or may be bolted together in support of frame 28 (Fig.1). l

The feed rollers 24, 25 operate together for unwinding theweb from the reel E, a spur gear 33 mounted on theshaft 2B meshing with and driving a gear'sa mounted on shaft 21. A chain sprocket 55 is mounted'on the end'of shaft 26 opposite the spur gear 33" and is driven by an endless chain 36. Thischain passes over and isdriv'en by a chain drive sprocket 31 mounted on a transverse shaft 38 (Figs. 2 and 5) The shaft 38'is journaled in bearings 42, 43, 44 in the main frame 32." A helical gear 45i's niountedatone endof the shaft 38and -meshes with'a similar drive gear 46 (see also Fig. 6) mounted on astub shaft 41 J'Qllinaled'in a bearir'ig48'of a bracket52. Bracket 52 is secured to press frame I8. The stub' shaft is driven in'time with the action of the press by a chain'drive op eratirig from the crank shaft of the press J. Such adrive includes an endless chain 54 which passes overand around a'chain drive sprocket 55 mount ed on the crankshaft 23 "and a chain driven sprocket 55 mounted on the stub shaft 41.

The turrets II, I2'of the feeding and gauging mechanism A are keyed to the upper part of vertical shafts 62, 63 (Figs.3 and 4) journaled in bearings 64, 85 in the frame 28. Each turret arri ra it f spa ed hqlizontal m 68,; 81 which areslidable in radial slideways 88, 68. These arms are retained in the slideways by plates 72 there being one plate secured to the top of each turret; Arms 68, 61 are actuated by stationary cams I3, 14 mounted on the upper ends of thebearings 64 65.. Each cam is located beneath a turret and surrounds a cen trally disposed boss or hub of the turret.

Each arm has preferably an integral section I5 and in like mannerthere is a section I6 (Fig. 3) for arm 61. These sections extend downwardly through elongated. openings 11, I8 in the respective turrets II. I2. Sections I5 carry cam rollers 82' at their lower ends.- Similarly sections [8 carry cam rollers 83 at their lower ends. Cam'rollers 82, 83 operate in cam grooves or race ways 84, 85.

Themovement of the arms 66, 61 is transmitted to sheet edge Eengaging elements or members 85, 81.. carriei on 'orsecuredto the outer ends of; therespective. arms. Eachengaging element has an outer profile configuration to accurately fit into an undulated edge D of the web B. As the turrets rotate intermittently the shape of the grooves in the cams I3, I4 is such as to impart to each element 86 and 81 a path of travel substantially along a straight line on opposite sides of the web or to remain in a momentary fixed holding position.

Hence, as the engaging elements 88 are carried by the moving turret II in a counter-clockwise direction and the engaging elements 81 on moving turret I'2 in a clockwise direction (when viewed in Figs. 2 and f1), the undulated opposite ed es D of the web B [are gripped with a slight pressure. Thus the web is guided laterally atall times and is advanced longitudinally over a feed table 88 during movement of the turrets. When the turrets are at rest a predeterturn have slight movement within the ends of arms 66. Each slide ,extends into a slideway I or opening 83' formed in the outer end of each arm 56] A spring 94 is locatedi'n the opening (Figs. 3 and 4) at its inner end. The slides'92 are retained in theirrespective openings 93 by.

pins 95 carried in the arms and passing "through slots 96 in the slides.

The turrets "II; I2 are operated in unison by a pair of geneva drives one for intermittently rotating each'shaftBZ and 83. Barrel cams 91', 98 are used in such a drive, both cams being mounted on shaft 38 5) These cams have respective earn grooves orraceways I02, I83 which include a right hand helix and a left hand helix with straight and parallel sections of each raceway at the terminal ends thereof.

Disks I84, I are mounted on the lower ends of the respective vertical shafts 62, 63 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5). Disk I04. on shaft 62 carries a plurality of spaced cam rollers I08 rotatably held on'pins I01. There are preferably eight of these traverses the entire length of the raceway I02 in the cam 91. In like manner disk I85 carries eight rollers I88 each mounted on a correspondng n husv it eac o a on f the shaft 3 8. an intermittent, movement and a dwell period is effective. for. each turret and both turret movements are synchronized for advancing the web; and for accurately. auging it in desired position at the workin'gfsta'tion C.

Consideration may now be given to the feed rollers H. These include anupper feed; roller I I3.

(Figs. 1,2, 4 and 5), and a lower roller I.I4. The former is mounted on a, trunnion shaft H5 and the lower roller is. mounted. on'a similar lower trunnion shaft H6. Bothshafts, are journaled in suitable bearings in the frame 28. These rollers are operated. intermit ntly and in time with the feeding and gauging tu ets II, |2.in the following manner: A pair of intermeshing spur gears I I1. is mounted, one on the end of each of the shafts H5, HE. A helical gear I I8. is mounted on the shaft I I5 and isdriven by a, helicaldrive gear 'lzz'moun'ted on the upper end o the verticalshaifttsg e*s g g i By means ofthis connecting drive when the rollers H3, H4 are brought to rest one of four flattened sections "I23 on'the upper roller H3 is directly above the web. There nowbeing a space between the two rollers, they no longer have any holding eifect or action on the web B whichat such a time is held Stationary entirely by the turrets ll, [2. This continues during the Work performing operation. Therefore, each partial or intermittent rotation .of. the roller H3 is through 90 degrees of travel and four cooperating feeding operations take place during a single complete rotation of the feed rollers H.

The work operation may consist of the blanking out of circular discs from the web B as shown in Fig. 2. For such non-rectangular blank cutting a skeleton K remains at the forward end of the web. Provision is made for rapid disposal of this skeleton K by shearing an overhanging perforated part, identified by the letter L (Fig. 1) from the rest of the web. A cut-off knife I26 secured to the movable slide 22 of the press J coacts with a stationary knife l2! secured to the end of the bolster plate I! for this purpose. The cut sections L drop by gravity from alongside the press J, this being a conventional scrap cutting operation.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it Will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing'from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for accurately feeding a strip having an undulated edge as an incident to preparing articles therefrom, the combination of spaced turrets located at opposite edges of said strip, a said turret having radially movable means thereon for fitting into the adjacent undulated edge and for gauging the position of said strip, means for moving said radially movable means into engagement with opposite edges of the strip, and means for intermittently rotating a said turret to accurately advance said strip by its engaged undulated edge, said turret holding the strip in a definite position in between its intermittent rotations for preparation of said articles.

2. In a mechanism for accurately feeding a strip having undulated edges as an incident to preparing articles therefrom, the combination of means for advancing the strip a predetermined distance to position a portion of the strip in an operating station, spaced gauging turrets located on opposite sides of said strip and having radially movable means thereon coacting with said advancing means for moving the strip longitudinally by engaging the opposite undulated edges of the strip to accurately locate and hold the strip in said station, and means for urging said radially movable means into engagement with the opposite undulated edges of the strip for the purpose described.

3. In a mechanism for accurately feeding a strip having undulated opposite edges as an incident to preparing articles therefrom, the combination of means for advancing the strip a predetermined distance longitudinally to position a portion of the strip in an operating station, spaced gauging turrets located on opposite sides of said strip and coacting with said advancing means for controlling the movement of the strip, radially movable peripherallyspaced means on said turrets for engaging the opposite undulated edges of the strip to accurately position the same before -eacharticle preparing operation and to hold the strip during said operation, and means for urging said. radially movable means on theturrets into yieldable engagement with the opposite undulated side edges of said strip during the feeding operation. 7

. 4. In a mechanism for accurately feeding a strip having an undulated edge as an incident to preparing non-rectangular articles therefrom, the combination of means for advancing the strip a predetermined distance longitudinally to position a portion of the strip in an operating station, a gauging turret located at a side of said strip and coacting with said advancing means for controlling the movement of the strip, radial arms slidable in said turret, means cooperating with said turret for moving said arms radially of the turret towards an edge of said strip, and means carried on said arms for yieldingly engaging the undulated edge of thestrip to accurately position the strip before each operation and to hold the strip during a said operation.

5. In a mechanism for accurately feeding a strip having undulated opposite edges as an incident to preparing articles therefrom, the combination of a pair of intermittently engageable feed rollers for advancing the strip a predetermined distance longitudinally to position a portion of the strip in an operating station, rotatable spaced gauging turrets located on opposite sides of said strip and coacting with said feed rollers for feeding the strip and operating independently thereof for controlling the gauging of the said strip at said operating station, said turrets having a plurality of radially disposed slideways, a plurality of arms carried on said gauging turrents with one of said arms slidable in each of said slideways, means adjacent each turret for moving the arms radially in said turret slideways, spaced strip engaging members carried on said arms and movable in a straight line path of travel parallel toand in the direction of the 4 advancing strip while engaging the opposite undulated edges thereof, and means on said arm moving means for holding said strip engaging members in said straight line path of travel during a portion of the rotation of said arms with a said turret, whereby to accurately position the strip before each operation and to hold the latter during said operation.

6. In a mechanism for accurately feeding a strip having undulated opposite edges as an incident to preparing non-rectangular articles therefrom, the combination of means for advancing the strip a predetermined distance longitudinally to position a portion of the strip in an operating station, intermittently operated gauging turrets located on opposite sides of said strip and coacting with said advancing means for feeding and for controlling the movement of the strip, said turrets having a plurality of radially disposed slideways, arms carried in said gauging turrets, a said arm being slidable in each of said slideways, a stationary cam located adjacent each of said gauging turrets for effecting the radial movement of said arms as the turrets rotate, spaced strip engaging means carried on said arms, an engaging means of one turret moving in unison with a corresponding engaging means on the other turret, means on said cam gamete in the "direction of flie-adva rnal-pigv portion of v a revolution-of a Salk! to and fitting with dulated edges of t f said star-alight line to -"age,

before each operatio' mg said operatitm; I cooperating with said v engaging -mea;nson ope"q 553g t In pass'ing alon pysifiion the stx ip old @he strip dm ng .-ensfion means ts -mto yield- E o (said strip.

m Num 

